Stereotype-casting machine



March 25 1924. 1,488,14rfi R. A. BROWN STEREOTYPE CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTYJ March 25 1924. 1,488,11416 R. A. BROWN STEREOTYPE CAS TING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 l/wav 7-0/7.- IPay /7 Brown.

Patented Mar. TQZQ.

entree stares my a. nnown, or aocnroan, ritrnvors.

srnanorvrn-cesrme erncnrnn.

Application filed. August 31, 1923. Serial No. 660,308.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, RA) A. BROWN, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Rockford. in the county of Winneba 0 and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype- Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stereotype casting machines of the kind especially adapted for use by small newspaper ublishers and in jobbing and other printing shops for casting stereotype plates from matrices furnished by newspaper, advertising and other service agencies. The principles of my invention are, however, not limited to stereotype casting machines of this particular size or for this limited use, but are generally applicable inthe casting of stereotype plates.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a generally improved and simplified stereotype casting machine of the character described which will be easy to operate and thoroughly practical for the purposes intended.

I have also aimed to so design the machine that it may be produced at a compare; tively low cost and yet be so sturdily constructed as to be long lived and durable under all working conditions and requirements of a machine of this kind.

In furtherance of the foregoing general objects, my invention contemplates the provision ofa casting box and a metal melting pot constructed and mounted in a novel manner. The casting box, preferably in the form of a bottom and a top platen, the latter of which may be swung to an open position for reception of the matrix and gage plates, is mounted on a low standard so as to swing from a horizontally disposed work-receiving position to a vertically disposed pouring position. The melting pot having a bottom pouring spout, is carried by the casting box, normally in a low posi-- tion over a heater. The meltin pot maintained at all times in an uprig t position, will be carried by the casting box to a pouring position when said box is swung to the vertically disposed position above mentioned. The melting pot and casting box are mounted so as to be counter-balanced,

making it easy and requiring little efiort to operate the machine; and the melting pot is automatically maintained in the 11 right position mentioned, so as to be move back and forth between the heater and the pouring position by movement of the casting box between its work-receiving and pouring positions. By reason of the melting pot being low, there is little danger of injury from the metal splashing over; and inasmuch as the pot pours from the bottom, many objections inherent in ladle type pouring pots are overcome, such for example as the skimming of dress, the loss of metal and heat, and inferior stereotypes resulting from this kind of pouring.

Another object is to so construct the machine that it may be operated quickly and by any person not especially skilled in this class of work.

Other objects and attendant advantages, will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following descri tion when considered in connection with t e accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a stereoptype casting machine embodying my invention, showing the machine in a work-receiving position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine showing it in the pouring position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine in the pouring position; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged, sectional views taken substantially on the lines H and 55 of Figs. 3 and 2, respectively.

The casting box or mold may be of any suitable or preferred construction, and in the present instance is in the form of a lower and an upper platen designated generally by 6 and 7. The lower laten has cast integrally therewith upstandlng lugs 8 to which the upper platen is hingedly connected by means of bolts 9, so that it may be swung to and from opened and closed positions, in the former of which to permit free access to the lower platen for arranging the gages and matrices thereon, and in the latter to clamp and hold such parts between the platens. The gage plates are'not shown but they are well understood in the art. These plates will be positioned against the straight edge 11 on the bottom platen when setting up the work. In this case the casting box is constructed for making what is hown as either thin plate or type high castings. For making the type high castings the upper platen 7 will be mounted in the position shown in full lines in the drawings,

Mill

lltlti and for the thin plate castings the uppler- 0 ts platen will be shifted by inserting the 9 in the holes 12, thus accommodating the casting box in the former instance to the regular gage plates, and in the latter instance to the thin plate gages. When the casting box is open as shown in Fig. 1, the upper platen will be supported in the inclined osition, shown by legs 13, which rest on the top of the upper extensions 14 of the lower platen. The platen will be clamped in a closed position by any suitable means, such for example as screw clamps 15 pivotally mounted on the lower platen and adapted to be swung into and out of operative position as will be evident.

The casting box may be supported by any suitable means so as to be capable of swinging back and forth between a horizontally disposed work-receiving position and a vertically disposed pouring or metal-receiving position. At present I employ for this purpose two standards 16 and 17 having bear-- mgs 18 in which trunnions 19 on the lower platen are journaled. Suitable tie rods 21 serve to hold the lower ends of the stand ards in rigid relative relation, and the upper ends are rigidly joined by a bracket 22.

The metal for casting the stereotype plates is carried in a melting pot designated generally by 23. This pot having an open top and a bottom pouring spout 24, is interposed between the extensions 14 on the lower platen and equipped with trunnions 25 mounted in bearings 26 on said extensions. The metal discharge from the pot is controlled by means of a plunger valve 27 slidably fitting a cylindrical bore 28, which intersects the discharge opening 29 in the spout. Molten metal enters the bore 28' from the pot through ports 31 and an annular chamber 32, the latter of which is normally filled with metal. By providing shallow grooves 33 in the lower end of the plunger 27 metal will fill in these grooves and serve to establish an effective seal against leakage.

( The plunger may be raised and lowered to open and closed positions by operation of a hand lever 34 pivotally mounted at 35 on a supporting part fixed to the pot and pivotally connected to the plunger by means of a link 36. A weight 27 on the lever serves to normally hold it in a closed position and always stops the flow of metal when the operator for any reason releases the lever after having raised it to start the flow.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the melting pot and the casting box are mounted in a counter-balanced relation, so that when the casting box is closed it may be very easily swung on its trunnions to and from its several operative positions. During these movements and at all times it is necessary to maintain the melting potin an upright position, and while the pot will automatically gravitate to a vertical position by reason of its suspension, nevertheless I have provided a means for positively holding it upright at all times. This means comprises a link 38 pivotally connected at 39 to the standard 17 and at 41 to the outer end of an arm 42 fixed to one of the pot trunnions 25. Inasmuch as the link 38 is disposed parallel with the adjacent platen extension 14, and the distance between the pivots 39 and 41 is substantially equal to the distance between the trunnions 19 and 25, a parallel connection is established whereby the melting pot will be held in avertical position by swinging the casting box back and forth between its work-receiving and pouring positions. With this positive connection there is no danger of accidental spilling or splashing of the molten metal, and the pot is positively held against displacement both in the normal heating position and in the pouring position.

TVhen in the pouring position, it will be observed that the spout 24 is brought against an upstanding stop 43, thus insuring alignment of the spout with the mouth 44 of the casting box.

Any suitable means may be provided for heating the melting pot, such for example as a gas or an oil heater, and in the present instance, I have shown one of the former kind. The burner designated generally by 45, supplied by gas from a pipe 46, is carried by an apron 47 which embraces the pot and confines the heat thereto. The apron is detachably supported on the standard bracket 22 by means of hooked arms 48 engaged over the top of said bracket.

I have now provided simple means for holding the casting box in both its workreceiving and metal-receiving positions and consequently for holding the melting pot in its heating and pouring positions. This means comprises a pair of slotted latch brackets designated generally by 49 pivotally connected together at their free ends by a tie rod 52. A stop pin 53 fixed to and extending inwardly from each side standard, passes through a slot 54 in the adjacent latch bracket and is adapted to be received into either of the notches 55 or 56 in the bracket for holding the casting box in either the work or metal receiving position. A washer or head on the inner end of each pin holds its bracket against displacement therefrom. Said brackets are shown in said latched positions in Figs. 1 and 2, it being observed that the notches 55 and 56 are disposed on opposite sides of the slot 54, so that in one case the weight of the casting box serves to hold the parts latched, and inthe other the weight of the brackets 49 holds them latched.

In the operation of my improved stereotype casting machine," the normal idle posesame sition is shown in Fig. 1. In this it may be assumed that the burner is lighted and that the ot is being heated for melting the metal The upper platen by'reason of its position overhanging the pot and heater will be heated so as to be partiall conditioned for the casting operation. T 1e lower platen will be heated by casting a blank slug just prior to casting the stereotype plate. In practice, it is found advisable to insert asheet of heavy cardboard or the equivalent across the face of the upper the greatest amount of heat will be conte d d ducted to the lower platen, thus bringing this to substantially the same temperature as the upper platen, which'has been previously heated by reason of its'position overv the melting pot.' The operator will then set up the matrices and gages in the usual manner and clamp the upper platen down in position by means of the clamps 15, thus putting the casting box in condition for pouring. Upon then releasing the latch .brackets 49 from the stops 53, the casting box will be free to swing downwardly to the vertically disposed work-receiving position shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. en the casting box reaches this position, it will be automatically locked therein by engagement of the stops 53 in the notches 56 of the latch brackets. During movement of the casting box to such position, the

melting pot will be carried upright to the overhead position in alignment with the mouth of the casting box and ready for pouring. The operator may then pour by simply depressing the hand lever 34 allowing suilicient metal to flow for filling the mold. Reversal of these operations brings the casting box back to the horizontally disposed position and returns the melting pot to the heater. It will be manifest that these operations may be very easily performed, especially in that there isvery little efi'ort required for swinging the casting box I to and from its several positions, because of the balanced relation of parts. Furthermore, there is no skill or attention required for properly locating the casting box and the melting pot in one position or another as this is taken care of positively by the latch brackets. The low normal position of the melting pot is also desirable, as there is practically no danger-from the splashing of metal when charging the pot. Furthermore, by reason of pouring from the bottom of the pot and positively holding the pot fixed when in the pouring position, there is no danger from splashing of the metal, noir attention required for skimming of dross as when a ladle or tilting type of melting. pot is used, and especially when such pot is-carried in an overhead position. It will also be noted that by reason of with the greatest degree of care. It will also be obvious to those familiar with this art that the present machine is composed of but comparatively few parts compactly arranged, and that the construction 'is thoroughly practical for the purposes inn e a It is believedthat the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects'prefaced above, and While I have illustrated but a single working embodiment, it should be understood that changes might be made in the construction'and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box :and a bottom pouring melting pot mounted in counter-balanced relation for swinging in unison, the casting box moving from a work-receiving position to a.metal-receiving position, and the melting pot from a low heating position to a pouring position above the casting box.

2. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box and a melting pot 1nounted in counter-balanced relation, the casting box being adapted to be swung from a horizontally disposed work-receiving position to a vertically disposed metal-receiving position, and a heater, the melting pot having a bottom pouring spout and being maintained upright while carried between a heat.- ing and a pouring position.

8. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box including a lower and an upper platen, means pivotally supporting said casting box so that it is adapted to be swung from a horizontally disposed work-receiving position to a vertically disposed metal-receiving position, a melting pot having a bottom pouring spout, and means pivotally supporting'the melting pot in a low heating position when said casting the casting box is swung from one position to another, and whereby the spout will be brought into pourin relation with the casting box when the latter 1s moved to said pouring position.

5. A stereotype casting machine compr sing-a supporting frame, a casting box 1ncluding a lower and an upper platen,'trunnions on the lower platen journaled on the supporting frame, an extension on the upper end of said lower platen, a melting pot having a bottom pouring spout and trunnions journaled on said extension, and a connection between the melting pot and frame for maintaining the melting pot in an upright position when the lower platen is swung to and from a work-receiving and a metal-receiving position.

6. A stereotype casting machine comprising a supporting frame, a casting box pivotally mounted on the supporting frame and adapted to be swung from a horizontally disposed work-receiving position to a vertically disposed metal-receiving position, a melting pot pivotally mounted on the casting box and having a bottom pourmg spout, means for maintaining the melting pot u right, whereby its spout will be broug is into pouring relation with the casting box when the latter is in its said metal eceiving position, and means for holding the casting box in said work and metal-receiving positions.

7 A stereotype casting machine as specified in claim 6, in which said means comprises a pair of latch brackets operable between the casting box and the supporting frame and having stop notches adapted to receive stop elements on the frame for holding the casting box in said positions.

8. A stereotype casting machine com ris-t ing a supporting frame, a casting box pivoted at one end thereon so as to gravitate to a vertically disposed position, a melting pot pivotally mounted in connection with and for counter-balancing the casting box, and a connection between the supporting frame and melting pot for holding it upright while 'casting box when'the latter is swun to its it is carried by swinging movement of the castingbox to and from a work-receiving position.

9. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box pivotally supported so as to gravitate to a vertically disposed position, a melting pot pivotally supported in connection with and for counter-balancing the casting box and having a bottom pouring spout, a plunger for controlling the flow of metal through the pouring spout, and a weighted lever on the melting pot for operating said plunger.

10. A stereotype casting machine com rising a supporting frame, a lower p aten pivotally mounted at its upper end on said frame and having an extension at said upper end, an upper platen, a melting ot havmg a bottom pouring spout and pivotallly mounted on said extension, an arm fixed to the melting pot, and a link pivotally connecting said arm to the supporting frame for maintaining the melting pot upright when the lower platen is swung from a work-receiving to a metal-receiving position.

11. A stereotype casting machine comprising a pair of side standards, a lower platen interposed between the standards and having trunnions at its upper end journaled on the standards, an upper laten. iv0t' ally mounted on the upper en of the ower platen, clamps carried by the lower platen for clamping both platens together, a melting pot having a bottom pouring spout, the lower platen having an extension at its upper end upon which the melting pot is pivotally mounted, a heater for the melting pot, means for holding the melting pot upright while it is carried to a pouring posi tion by swinging movement of the lower platen to said metal-receiving osition, and means for holding the lower p aten in said work and metal receiving positions.

12. A stereotype casting machine comprising a casting box including a lower and an upper platen pivotally connected together, the lower platen being dpivotally mounted at its upper end and a apted to metal-receiving position, and means or supporting the upper platen in an inclined position overhanging the melting .pot when the lower platen is in its work-receiving position.

RAY A. BROWN. 

